Pipe-wrench



(No Model.)

S, B. RITTENHOUSE. PIPB WRBNGH.

Patented Feb. 28, 1898.

mm IM z. W

WZ/wsw:

I y 615. Wam

iso

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SILAS B. RITTENHOUSE, OF LIBERTY MILLS, INDIANA.

PIPE-WRENCH.

SPEGIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 492,435, dated February 28, 1893.

Application filed July 6. 1892. Serial No. 489,094. (No model.)

To all whom it may conccrn:

Be it known that I, SILAs B. RITTENHoUsE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Liberty Mills, in the county of Wabash, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful I mprovements in Pipe-Vrenches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The objects of my improvement are to pioduce a pipe wrench of simple and inexpensive construction and adapted to be quickly operated to grasp pipes of any size. 1 attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front view of a pipe wrench constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front view showing a inodification of the same.

In said drawings A, represents the handle that constitutes also, at one end thereof the jaw A2 of the wrench that is provided with ratchet teeth a2. The opposite end of the handle is provided with a haininer head a to increase the uses for which the wrench may be employed.

To the handle A adjacent to its jaw end is secured a fiat looped strap b that projects a sufficient distance in front of the jaw A2 to receive a jaw O that is pivoted to said strap at b2. The upper end of the jaw O has serra-tions c and is kept norinally away from the jaw A2 by means of a Wire spring cl that has its middle portion coiled upon a pin d2 passing through the strap b, one of the ends of the spring bearing against the jaw O and the other end against the jaw A2. j

To bring the jaw O toward the jaw A2 to grasp a pipe or rod of small diameter, the jaw O has a stem C2 extended under the strap Z); and between said stem and the handle A, there is placed a wedge E, provided with a tail E2 that is retained connected with the handle A, byimeans of a strap F secured to said handle. One side of the wedge E is parallel with the side of the handle and is provided with fine ratchet teeth e to interlock Ward the jaw A2, when the operator pushes the wedge endwise toward the strap b. The teeth e of said wedge come then into engagement with the teeth aa and prevent the jaws O and A2 from opening wider apart when forced into engagement with a pipe or rod. But to facilitate the release of the wedge under a simple pressure of the tail end of the wedge toward the handle A, said tail is slightly curved outwardly away from said handle, and has its lower portion serrated at e2 to increase its frictional contact with the hand of the operator. Said side pressure will permit the wedge to be easily moved backward by the operator2s thumb while handling the wrench.

In the modification shown in Fig; 3 the wedge is arranged to be moved not so directly, and consequently by slower means, but said means permit a slightly closer adjustment of the opening between the jaws. In said figure the tail of the wedge is made cylindrical and although it is slightly bent to one side to facilitatethe disconnection of the teeth e from the teeth (L2, it is screw threaded and is made to pass through a hand-nut G that is received somewhat loosely in a slot F2 formed in the side of the strap F and in the side of the handle.

I-Iaving now fully described my invention, I claim- 1. In combination with a handle having serrations and a jaw formed thereon and a strap b rigidly secured thereto, the Ijaw C pivoted to said strap, a secondary strap F rigidly attached to the handle, a wedge provided with serrations on one side and a tail `guided through the strap F and alongside of In testiinony whereof I aifix my signature in' presence of two witnesses. SILAS B. RITTENl-IOUSE. Witnesses:

JOHN F. EIoHHoLTz, J AooB HARTER.

IOO 

